Schools won't be reopening on March 30th, according to the Minister for Education.
Further restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19 will be announced this afternoon.
Minister Joe McHugh says that the main focus of his department now is having the state exams sit as normal on June 3rd.
He says an official announcement will be made later today.
"The 29th, which is next Sunday, schools are closed up till the 29th."
"They won't be opening immediately after that."
"We will get confirmation, whether it's today or tomorrow, to find out what is the next date until which the schools will be closed."
Education Minister Joe McHugh says schools won’t be reopening on March 30th #COVID19
— Kim Buckley (@KiiimBuckley) March 24, 2020
On the 12th March the Taoiseach announced the closure of schools, colleges, childcare facilities for two weeks.
That will be extended soon.
Advice For Studying While Schools Are Closed
President of the ASTI, Deirdre McDonald, has this advice for students at home:
"Particularly leaving cert and junior cert students, mimic the school day - get up at your normal time and have the breakfast."
"Then sit down when you would normally start school."
"I would practice a good routine, follow your normal school timetable."
After the leaving cert oral exams were cancelled and students were given full marks, attention now turns to the state exams which are due to begin on the 3rd June.
General secretary of the TUI John MacGabhann says students should be working on the basis that they will be assessed.
"They need to believe that there will be a time where their efforts will be assessed."
"Those assessments will be of importance to them."
"So they need to make their very best efforts, as they have been doing."
Most colleges are delivering lectures online with decisions on exam dates to be made by each individual institution.
The government is due to officially announce the new measures regarding schools, colleges and childcare facilities at around 3PM this afternoon.
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